Sweden’s Jonas Blixt is so excited about making his Ryder Cup debut he stumbled on naming Europe’s captain.
The PGA Tour-based Blixt was ranked 46th on the European Team points table heading into last week’s Masters.
But now after finishing joint second in his first-ever Augusta National appearance and the Swede has jumped to 14th.
As well, Blixt is now ranked 33rd in the world meaning he’s in all four Majors this season after having teed-up at Augusta in only his third Major.
However when asked about the chances of qualifying automatically for McGinley’s European Team the Nassjo-born Blixt, the player who turns 30 next week, simply stumbled when naming McGinley.
Jonas Blixt looking to become first Swede to win a Major. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
“It would be a lifelong dream to appear on a Ryder Cup team,” said Blixt.
“So I’m going to do everything I can, absolutely everything to be on that team.
“But it’s up to ahh, ahh. Boy! I can’t think of his name. What’s his name?”
Someone piped-up: “Paul McGinley”.
Blixt continued: “Yes, that’s right, sorry. It’s up to Paul to make the decisions on that. But you know what, I’m going to play as hard as I can in order so he doesn’t have a choice but to pick me.
“I want the Europeans to win and I’ll cheer. I’ll support them as much as I can, but I would love be on that team.”
It was eight months ago McGinley first met Blizt and during the course of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
McGinley had been afforded the customary European Team captain invitation and Blixt contesting only his second Major Championship having finished T26th in the British Open before impressing in sealing fourth place at Bay Hill.
It was first time McGinley had met Blixt and after just an informal 15-minute chat McGinley came away very impressed.
“It was only a short meeting but Jonas really impressed me,” said McGinley.
“He’s a golfer who displays ‘spunk’ and it’s the type of player you need in a Ryder Cup side.”
And fellow Swede Henrik Stenson, who shared 14th place at Augusta on one over par, agrees.
“I know from speaking a lot with Jonas that is one of his goals, and that’s to be on the Ryder Cup team,” said Stenson.
“He joined the European Tour for that reason and after this result he is heading in the right direction.
“But then I would agree with Paul that Jonas has spunk whatever spunk is but then it’s showing guts and having determination.
“His record of late shows that he does have spunk and that’s what I like about him, too.
“Jonas didn’t make it onto the PGA Tour via the normal European Tour route, and he came the unconventional way and that was to come to college over here in the States.
“So he would be great on a European Team and I say ‘the more Swede’s on the Ryder Cup team the better’”.
